Welcome to the Mad in America podcast, a new weekly discussion that searches for the truth about psychiatric prescription drugs and mental health care worldwide.

This podcast is part of Mad in America’s mission to serve as a catalyst for rethinking psychiatric care. We believe that the current drug-based paradigm of care has failed our society and that scientific research, as well as the lived experience of those who have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, calls for profound change.

On the podcast over the coming weeks, we will have interviews with experts and those with lived experience of the psychiatric system.

Thank you for joining us as we discuss the many issues around rethinking psychiatric care around the world.

This week on MIA Radio we
turn our attention to psychiatric drug withdrawal and in particular
the work of the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug
Withdrawal.

The Institute recently held a network meeting in Gothenburg,
Sweden, where 40 leading experts from around the world came
together to discuss the issues of dependence, withdrawal and
iatrogenic harm relating to psychiatric drugs. The meeting
participants included both professionals and those with lived
experience.

We chat with IIPDW founder Carina Håkansson and IIPDW Board
Member Professor John Read.

Following the meeting, the IIPDW released the following Press
Release.

INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS CALL FOR SERVICES TO
SUPPORT MILLIONS TRYING TO COME OFF PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS

Millions of people around the world are currently trying to come
off psychiatric drugs but finding it extremely difficult because of
withdrawal effects which are often severe and persistent, and
because there is so little support available to come off the drugs
slowly and safely.

The 40 international
experts attending this weekend’s meeting (end of September 2019) of
the International Institute for Psychiatric Drug Withdrawal
(www.iipdw.org) voted to endorse
the recommendations of the recent Public Health England [PHE]
review of ‘Dependence and withdrawal associated
with prescribed medicines’ and pledged to
try to implement them in the 15 countries they are from, and
beyond. These include:

Enhancing clinical guidance and the likelihood it will be
followed.

Improving information for patients and carers on prescribed
medicines, and increasing informed choice and shared
decision-making between clinicians and patients.

Improving the support available from the healthcare system for
patients experiencing dependence on, or withdrawal from, prescribed
medicines.

Further research on the prevention and treatment of dependence
on, and withdrawal from, prescribed medicines.

Participants agreed that besides antidepressants and
benzodiazepines other psychoactive drugs, e.g. antipsychotics,
should be included. They also agreed with PHE that ‘the goal is to
make sure that our healthcare system builds awareness and enhanced
decision-making for better patient treatment and support. These
recommendations are just the beginning. All parts of the healthcare
system and the general population will need to engage with this
complex problem and work together to find solutions’.

The meeting decided to hold a large international conference in
Iceland in 2020.

‘All our hopes were exceeded. So many plans, local and
international, emerged from this gathering of inspirational experts
and activists. The time for change on this issue has clearly
arrived’ carina@utvidgaderum.se

Participants commented:

‘Psychiatric drugs destroyed 10 years of my life. I am so happy
that we are finally addressing this issue of how to get off these
drugs, which effects literally millions of people.’
Olga Runciman, Denmark (Psychologist, IIPDW Board Member) +45
27851003, orunciman@gmail.com

‘Doctors should be able to prescribe the tapering medication
strips I demonstrated at the meeting, which are required to stop
safely. This is crucially important’. Dr Peter Groot, Netherlands
(UMC University Hospital, Utrecht) +31 622290233
p.c.groot@ziggo.nl

‘As an NHS Psychiatrist, I am aware how many lives are ruined by
over-medication. We need to recognise that there are alternatives
which are more powerful and less harmful.’ Dr Rex Haigh, UK
(Berkshire) +44 7768 546983 rex.haigh@gmail.com

‘The strong commitment all weekend, from researchers, clinicians
and people with experience of psychiatric drugs was inspiring. The
denying and minimizing of psychiatry and the drug companies will no
longer prevail’. Professor John Read, UK (University of East
London, IIPDW Board Member) +44 7944 853 783
john@uel.ac.uk

“I return to Brazil with a willingness to help the process of
psychiatric reform in my country vigorously address the damage that
the alliance between psychiatry and the pharmaceutical industry has
done to our population.” Professor Fernando Freitas (FIOCRUZ,
Member of IIPDW Faculty) + 55 21 2260 9200 ffreitas@ensp.fiocruz.br

About the Podcast

Welcome to the Mad in America podcast, a new weekly discussion that searches for the truth about psychiatric prescription drugs and mental health care worldwide.
This podcast is part of Mad in America’s mission to serve as a catalyst for rethinking psychiatric care and mental health. We believe that the current drug-based paradigm of care has failed our society and that scientific research, as well as the lived experience of those who have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder, calls for profound change.
On the podcast over the coming weeks, we will have interviews with experts and those with lived experience of the psychiatric system. Thank you for joining us as we discuss the many issues around rethinking mental health around the world.
For more information visit madinamerica.com
To contact us email podcasts@madinamerica.com